Chiddy Bang - “Opposite of Adults” video

While going through the recent videos MTV has been dropping for the XXL Freshmen 10 list (so far, Wiz Khalifa, Fashawn, Pill, Nipsey Hussle, and J. Cole) I started thinking about how ubiquitous these artists have become among the major hip-hop blogs. By the time XXL comes around to naming their selects it seems the that internet is doing most of the work for them. Every artist named, and I would assume the other nominees, all made appearances throughout the year on my weekly Play Count article over at The Volume, which isn’t even to say I was on top of the talent, just an early adopter willing to download and clog his hard drive with a ton of medicore mixtapes to find the few tracks and artists worth multiple listens. I’m a believer that truly good music, created by talented people, willing to work hard, will stand out over time. By the time XXL is out, most artists on the list have been picked out and diagnosed by a number of writers and critics, much more qualified than I to make predictions of talent.  

The idea of being named to this list does seem to hold a lot of importance though, as the names tied to the ‘09 list continue to gain more mainstream exposure, often due to that first magazine cover. Even today itsthereal dropped a video with ‘09 rookie Charles Hamilton taking a few shots at himself in relationship to his troubled year after earning the coveted recognition. Being named to the list opens doors for most and will keep the fans and listeners looking for these few all-stars to break out more quickly than their peers, and as valuable as freshmen mention is, we the internet–commenting, over obsessive, download everything–fans need to remember that it isn’t the end all be all. The brightest and fastest rising star of ‘09 was easily Drake, taking a mixtape released in February for free to an EP major release, Grammy nod and a 2 million dollar deal for his upcoming debut, quickly passing by the Freshman of last year, with a handful who have still yet to release a commercial project.

Still, important or not, for the few that follow these things, its a lot of fun to go through the list and think about who should have and shouldn’t have been on past and upcoming lists.  So as the rest of the 2010 freshman slowly leaks out there probably wont be a single name on there that bring about any surprise. Most of these artists have made the rounds, toured major cities and been given co-sign or two by major artists and press before the masses have their issues hit the local newsstand. So while everyone Monday quarterback’s an unsurprising lists over the next month, we want to give you insight to a pick we think is worth checking out, even if they may never see a XXL cover this year, or next.

W’ere talking about the young Philly team of Chiddy Bang. Above you can check out the video for “Opposite of Adults,” a flip of the banger “Kids” by MGMT off of their debut mixtape, The Swelly Express. The tape hasn’t really seen exposure on many of the big hip-hop sites but was presented by OnSmash and sponsored by Crooks & Castles. The tape has one major guest verse with Philly famous Black Thought jumping on “Slow Down” but otherwise tells the ‘true story’ of Chidera Anamege and Xaphoon Jones journey to make it in the industry. We first gave a shout the crew way back in November, and if you missed it then, we think its time you get up on it. Download the mixtape here, and if you dig the video, the behind the scenes clip is down below.

Chiddy Bang will be performing in New York tonight with Mike Posner at Gramercy Theater and at Webster Hall on March 6th alongside another KeapHope favorite, Outasight.

Behind the Scenes: Opposite of Adults from LOOSEWORLD on Vimeo.